|
How To Help
What, Where and How to Aid the September 11th Relief Effort URGENTLY NEEDED SUPPLIES DRINKS: The Rescue workers love Gatorade especially, sports drinks, juice, two liter bottles water, especially the vitamin waters, and sodas. Cans and small bottles or even the juice boxes are preferred, except for the water, which they need in two liter bottles if possible, for the extremely fatigued and dehydrated rescue workers. They do not have cups, so individual containers are most useful. FOOD: Sandwiches. All kinds. If you are bringing sandwiches, wrap them in cellophane, saran wrap or tin foil; ziplock baggies are best, and if you can PLEASE mark them with what they are. So many sandwiches were donated, unmarked and wrapped only in paper towels and by the time they got to the site, they were in terrible shape and had to be thrown away. They don't need candy bars, but I"m sure energy bars will be. Packaged items like cookies, chips, popcorn, pretzels etc are appreciated. Yes on fruit like oranges, apples, bananas, but nothing else perishable or delicate or that needs preparation, no tins or cans of soup (they have no way to open, heat and serve them). OTHER: Ice, construction helmets, heavy duty gloves and goggles, flashlights, batteries, Band aids, Advil, over the counter medications, vitamins, eye drops, and lots of socks. Trolleys, or shopping carts, so they can pack stuff in and move it. If you have an old shopping cart you can donate them, that would be tremendous to help them move supplies from place to place. Bring them to donation centers in your area and they will be brought downtown to Ground Zero. If you want to help or bring your donations down yourself, volunteers should go to the west side highway and walk down, around North Moore. Don't ask the cops where to go or whom to check in with, since they really don't know and they have other things to do. ask civilians "What can I do to help? Who should I talk to?" and they'll pretty much point you out to one of the relief centers/canteens. REMEMBER: Keep it coming all week. Don't donate everything tomorrow and say "I did a lot on Thursday, so I'm done." They will need donations all week, perhaps for weeks. Donations in dribs and drabs are probably better than a massive dump all at once, so there is a steady flow of food and supplies. "The dent we made today is nothing compared to what we need," says Sue. "We had massive amounts of stuff this morning and it's all gone. Gone. Next week those relief workers will still need supplies and something to eat." Many of these relief workers are on 12-14 hour shifts, and a turkey sandwich, bottle of Gatorade, an orange, and perhaps a clean pair of socks may not sound like much, but will be so appreciated by someone doing the hardest work of their lives. VOLUNTEER: the Red Cross of NY has a form so anyone interested in volunteering can fill out at their website so they'll have you on file when/if they need you. www.nyredcross.org IN NEW JERSEY: Volunteers can report from 10am to 5pm to the old commuter ferry dock behind 70 Hudson Street in Jersey City. It is not possible to drive closer than 5 blocks to this location, so the best bet is to take mass transit or walk to that location. From this dock, supplies and volunteers are taken across the river to the rescue site. MONEY DONATIONS The United Way in conjunction with the New York Community Trust have established The September 11th Fund for victims of the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington DC and other affected communities. The purpose of the fund is to mobilize financial resources to respond to the pressing needs of the victims, their families and all those who were affected by this tragedy in New York and other affected cities both now and in the future weeks and months. Contributions to The September 11th Fund may be made on-line at the United Way of New York City's web site at www.uwnyc.organd on the United Way of Essex and West Hudson County's web site at www.uwewh.org For additional information please contact your local United Way. For those wanting to make Red Cross donations, their website redcross.org has been overwhelmed with responses, so you can make donations via credit card through Amazon.com Also, AOL now has a pop up window that says HOW TO HELP when you log on. HOTLINES: HOTLINES FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY * The city has set up an online locator board to help find relatives and friends separated by the disaster. At the site, people can read or post messages to relatives and friends. (Click on www.ny1.com for a direct link to the site, it wasn't transferred with this msg) For further information, call 917-363-9421. * The city has set up a hotline to answer questions about the rescue effort (when possible) from concerned family members and friends of potential victims: 212-560-2730. * Family members and relatives of NYPD employees who have not heard from their loved ones are asked to call 718-677-8328. * For more information about firefighters and FDNY rescue workers, families and relatives can call 718-999-2541. * About 2,000 Port Authority employees worked at the World Trade Center, and the PA has set up a number for relatives of employees searching for information. That number is 973-565-5505. You can also try 5506 and 5507. * The Port Authority is also asking all employees who were supposed to show up to work at the World Trade Center on Tuesday to call a special number: 973-565-5501. You can also try 5502, 5503 or 5504. * Morgan Stanley, which had offices in the World Trade Center, has set up a number to for friends and family of its employees at 1-888-883-4391. They were the largest company at WTC with some 22 floors, and 3500 or so employees, even on the floors directly hit by one of the planes. Word is, stunningly, most of them made it out. * Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield, whose headquarters were located in the World Trade Center, are requesting employees to call 1-866-761-8265. * American Airlines has set up a hotline for relatives who may have been on their downed flights, at 1-800-245-0999. * For United Airlines, call 1-800-932-8555 or go to www.united.com. * St. Vincent's Hospital, which is treating many of the victims, can be reached at 212-604-7285. Any doctors or nurses that can help treating patients are asked to call the hospital at 212-604-8478. * The U.S. government family hotline can be reached at 1-800-331-0075. * The city has also set up a hotline for all non-emergency calls, and officials are asking that you avoid using 911 unless it is necessary. The hotline is 212-560-2730. * If you'd like to donate blood, which is desperately needed, please call the New York Blood Center at 1-800-933-BLOOD for information on how to do so. IF YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW LIVES DOWNTOWN: Remind everyone to call their friends who live in the 'hood between 14th street and the WTC - we're still being told to stay in our homes and it's still spooky outside & frustrating because we can't really get around! [I know seems minor but...] also PLEASE tell any friends who have asthma to please be careful - the air quality is really really bad..." (wear those white respiratory masks or if you are visiting a friend downtown, bring them some, ask them what they might need, pet food, etc). Also the Village Voice is doing obits: they really want to get as many as they can to give tribute to everyone who's suffering so please get this info out to as many people as you can." RELIEF EFFORTS: Civilians volunteers report to : Jacob Javitz Center on 34th St. and 11th avenue (some volunteers were turned away today. Keep trying,they will need help for a long time!) Requested items: Bottled water, Aspirin/Tylenol, Long-sleeve shirts (adult), Work boots (large) and work gloves, Surgical and dust masks, Blankets and towels. Volunteers -- we understand that they may need a new wave of voluntee rs around 3 or 4 p.m. Chelsea Piers was accepting volunteers a day or two ago, but as of yesterday it is a morgue. Will keep you posted if I hear any different. Missing Persons Center: Armory at Lexington Ave & East 26th (OFFICE SUPPLIES NEEDED HERE TO PROCESS INFORMATION!) BLOOD DONATIONS Type O needed most 1-800-448-3543 (GIVE-LIFE), 1-800-933-2566 http://www.nybloodcenter.org/ DONATIONS: Dry Clothes, Sheets, Towels, Ice Coolers Medical Supplies, Water. - Shea Stadium, at the Press Gate - 77 Bleecker St (btw b'way and lafayette) CHELSEA FOOD MARKET on 9th Avenue: It appears water is being trucked in by corporations and others making donations so the water supply seems healthy for now here. For now, they need Gatorade, juice boxes, bananas, socks, toothbrushes, saline solution, eye drops (there is so much dust and asbestos in the air at the site I can barely see two hours later...), snacks in individual bags (like little bags of cheetos, etc), toothbrushes and toothpaste, men's underwear (size large), dog food, work gloves, goggles, boots (all mens' sizes) etc. If you bring boots, tie the laces together and mark the size on the soles, so we can distribute them easily. Bring anything on that list to the Chelsea Food Market on 9th Ave and it will find its way downtown. TSHIRTS/SWEATSHIRTS and other materials can be donated to the Salvation Army on West 14th Street. If you bring a bag of clothes or materials, sort them if you can and label the bag to make processing easier (all socks in one back, tied or rolled together, tshirts in another, neatly folded, etc.) Hey, this is a brilliant time to get rid of those band and promo tshirts stacked up in your closet! Old company picnic tshirts that were never used, 5K fun run shirts, college sweatshirts. A relief worker might be pretty happy to get that old Go-Go's tshirt! Start a clothing drive at your office, in your building or neighborhood. JERSEY CARES: In this time of great sadness, we at the Jersey Cares office would like to take the time to inform you of how you can help in the aftermath of this disaster. The Community FoodBank of New Jersey is in desperate need of WEEKDAY volunteers to help sort and distribute items for emergency care packages to be given out to rescue workers and victims. If you would like to help sort and are available between the hours of 9 am - 4 pm, please go to the FoodBank located at 31 Evans Terminal Road in Hillside. Call the FoodBank to check extended hours of operation (directions attached). If you have a larger group that would like to volunteer please call Noelle at 908-355-3663, x 221. Items needed for Disaster Relief include: single serving bottles of water and juice, protein or smack bars, ready-to-eat meals such as canned stews & soups, paper and plastic products and pre-moistened towelettes. (website is www.njfoodbank.org) In conjunction with UMDNJ and Rutgers University, The Salvation Army of Newark is setting up a temporary Emergency Operations Center, at the Golden Dome gymnasium, to house and feed firefighters, EMTs and other rescue workers. Volunteers are needed during the next few evenings, throughout the night,(especially the late shift) to help serve food, give out supplies and make sure these brave men and women are comfortable. Please call Michele at 973-644-4952 for more information or to sign up. Other Salvation Army needs: a.. Donations of comfortable cots for the rescue workers to sleep in, pillows,towels, blankets and toiletries. b.. Drivers to help move emergency personnel between areas c.. Licensed grief counselors, therapists, etc. to assist those whose lost loved ones. Please call Jeff Gulley, Major Charles Kelley or Major Barbara Kelley at 973-623-5959 for drop-off locations or to help out. DONATE BLOOD There will be a great need for blood now and in the months to come. Please call the following numbers to schedule an appointment to donate blood: For Somerset Medical Center call: 908-685-2926 For Overlook Hospital in Summit: 908-522-5560 For New Brunswick (New Street):732-220-7000 For West Orange Donor center, Parsippany Donor Center or Saint Barnabas Medical Center call: 800-BLOOD NJ Please keep in mind that donors must be at least age 17, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good general health. Photo or signature ID is required. You must wait 56 days in between donations. DONATIONS AND INFORMATION --Contributions to the September 11 Fund can be made to the United Way of New York City, 2 Park Avenue, NY, NY 10016, (212) 251-4035 or check out the website at www.uwnyc.org. --American Red Cross: www.redcross.org/donate or call 1-800-HELPNOW or 1-800-GIVELIFE --Federal Emergency Management Agency website at www.fema.gov --Traveler's Aid--for a compete listing of local travel services to contact for volunteer support for grounded flights: www.travelersaid.org tel 973-644-4952 fax 973-397-2992 www.jerseycares.org RED CROSS UPDATE: Betsy says: "We were told at the Red Cross when we filled out application forms, that they will probably need us more to field phone calls and to do office work in the near future rather than at the WTC site. They are looking specifically for (foreign) language and computer skills." Page last updated September 15th. Thanks to Nicole Blackman, Irwin Chusid and Ken Freedman for compiling this information.
|